Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 30 MPH, 2 CARS IN FRONT SLAMMED ON BRAKES, I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 CAR LINKS BACK AND HIT THE BRAKES. ABS FAILED, AIRBAGS FAILED, AND SLID INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A FUSE BLEW AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
DURING INSPECTION INSPECTER 38573 REPORTED A DIAGNOSTIC FAULT AS AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. AFTER FAILED INSPECTION. I LOOKED FOR PART WITH THE AVAIL. CURRENT PART ON VEHICLE IS 1F2A-14B321-EE. I CANNOT FIND A PART NUMBER MATCHING. I TOOK IT TO A SECOND MECHANIC TO VERIFY IF HE INFACT WAS RIGHT. AND I LOOKED AT THE DIAGNOSTIC AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT SHOW UP HOWEVER WHAT DID SHOW UP AFTER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER A FULL MEMORY CLEAR WAS CODE B234 WHICH POINTS TO DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE SWITCH SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. OR IN LAMES TERMS SAFETY BELT BUCKLE SWITCH. THIS SHOULD NEVER IN A CARS LIFE EVER HAPPEN. IF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE A ACCIDENT THIS COULD CAUSE DEATH TO THE CONSUMER. IM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE I BELIEVE SO IM NOT SURE IF THERE'S A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AS I DO KNOW THERE'S ONE SIMILAR. MY REINSPECTION IS DUE WITHIN 6 DAYS. I FEEL I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR FOR A PART ON SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER NEED TO REPLACED. ESPECIALLY WHEN LIVES ARE AT STAKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON/OFF, TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP,, THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS, HOWEVER I HAVE TWO RECALL NUMBERS 00V270000 AND 00V412000 CONCERNING THE RCM-RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE-THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR THEM TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE IF A RECALL EXIST FOR THE PROBLEM I IDENTIFIED ALREADY CALLED THE FORT CUSTOMER SUPPORT NUMBER THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SAID NO RECALLS EXIST FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: REAR WINDOWS NOT WORKING,HAD MOTORS REPLACED WORKED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THEN INTERMITTENT THEN QUIT WORKING WITHIN 6 MONTHS. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH GOES ON AND OFF. A/C STOPS BLOWING FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS THEN RESUMES BLOWING. KEYLESS ENTRY WORKS SOMETIMES,SOMETIMES IT DON'T. SPEEDOMETER SLOWER THAN IT READS AND MILEAGE MAY NOT BE CORRECT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. INTERMITTENT SETTINGS ON WIPERS QUIT WORKING AND WHEN YOU TURN OFF WIPERS THEY STOP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. I HAVE AN 88 YEAR OLD FATHER WITH NO LEGS AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO DRIVE HIM AROUND IN. DO NOT FEEL SAFE!! *TR
7/21/2011 BOUGHT VAN FROM PRIVATE PARTY. RECALL COMPLETED IN MARCH OF 2011 REGARDING BACK AXLE. ON 7/13/2012 8PM, MY 18YR OLD SON, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM LACROSSE PRACTICE, NEARLY KILLED. UPON PULLING OUT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD, HE LOST ALL CONTROLS, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES AND NO POWER. HE COASTED AND PRAYED IT WOULD STOP. I ARRIVED, WE CALLED AAA. FLATBED TO MY HOME DRIVER COULD NOT BELIEVE HIS EYES. THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN OUT. 7/16/12 CALLED FORD IN MICH AND SPOKE TO REP. TO BE TOWED 13 MILES AWAY TO ROUTE 23 AUTO AT OUR EXPENSE. REALLY? ROUTE23 WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH ME (THEY DID RECALL). WENT BACK AND FORTH THEN PER RT23 "IT WILL BE A MONTH UNTIL WE CAN LOOK AT IT" GETTING KNOW WHERE. 7/18-22 BORROWED FRIEND CAR FOR TOURNAMENT. 8/1/12 CALLED MAGARINO FORD AND WITH GREAT CONCERN HAD A FLATBED THAT NIGHT. THIS TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. FLUIDS RACED OUT AND DOUBLE STABILIZED FOR ENGINE SLIDING DURING TRANSPORT. 8/2/12 MAGARINO CALLED 9AM, PICTURES SENT TO FORD AND AWAITING REPLY. 8/5/12 T/C FROM M STATING FORD REFUSES TO BUY BACK AND SENDING A SUBFRAME. YOU MEAN A RECALLED ONE? MAGARINO CAUGHT IN MIDDLE I QUESTIONED WHETHER HE WOULD PUT HIS CHILDREN IN THIS VAN. HE SOFTLY REPLIED, "NO" WHAT AM I TO DO, OUT OF WORK 2 YEARS, SINGLE PARENT WITH NO CAR TO FIND WORK. 8/8/12 I QUESTIONED FORD WHY THIS VAN EVER LEFT RT 23 AUTO, ACCORDING TO RESEARCHED PAPER A PART WAS WAITING ON. YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT UPON THIS FIXED AXLE NOBODY NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED FROM INSIDE OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT THE NEXT SUMMER NEARLY KILLING MY SON! BUT THEY SIGNED IT WAS FINE! REALLY? NOW WE HAVE CASE # 1373091992 8/10/12 PICKED UP VAN. BROKE= A/C, R-WINDOW, HEATER ENGINE, AIRBAG, BRAKE LIGHT ON, RUNS HOT STEERING= THUMPS MAKES NOISE (FULL FLUID) SKIP GEARS, SWAYS, BARELY CAN GET UP A HILL. 11YR OLD SCARED TO DRIVE IN IT
I WAS DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN I HEARD LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUN. WHEN I PULLED OVER, LOOKED AT MY WINDOWS ETC. THEY WERE ALL INTACT. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG ON SIDE OF PASSENGER SEAT HAD GONE OFF, AND BLEW THAT AREA OF THE PASSENGER SEAT OUT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER THE NEXT WORKING DAY, WHICH WAS YESTERDAY. TODAY THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE # 1-800-392-3673. I WAS AGAIN TOLD THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD GONE ON LINE AND THERE WERE 2 AIR BAG RECALLS ON THAT MODEL OF CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT FORD DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAD ENTERED 2001 FORD WINDSTAR RECALLS. IT GAVE ME NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V412000 DATED 12/06/2000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V270000 DATED 09/13/2000 I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S RESPONSIBILITY, NOT MINE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE HAD TO EXERT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT AN ABS MODULE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOW/ICE COVERED ROAD ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE ROAD WAS NOT PLOWED. I LOST MY BRAKES AND STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS DOWN A HILL. I TRIED TO STEER THE 2001 FORD WINDSTAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST. I WAS PETRIFIED. I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP MY BUMPER HIT A DRAIN PIPE. ALL AXLES WERE BENT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE WINDSTAR WAS TOTALED. I RECEIVED 18 STITCHES IN MY MOUTH. MY TOP TEETH BIT THROUGH MY BOTTOM LIP. I HAVE A SCAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I FILED COMPLAINTS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES AND AS ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING I NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER. I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR
I TOOK MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR IN FOR THE RECALL, AND STILL MY ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON. I RESEARCHED ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
OUR ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AFTER DRIVING THE VAN FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND DOES NOT COME ON AGAIN WHEN RESTARTED UNTIL THE VAN IS DRIVEN MORE (I.E. HEATS UP). WE NOTICED THIS FIRST DURING A SEVERE RAIN STORM ON A LONG TRIP DURING AUGUST OF 2009. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) FAILED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V270000 (AIR BAGS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED ONCE IT ARRIVES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 8/27/09 *CN UPDATED 09/04/09.*JB
ON JANUARY 18, 2009, I WAS DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY WEST, NEAR EXIT 40, IN THE LEFT LANE, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I CALLED THE HIGHWAY PATROL, THE OFFICER THAT RESPONDED ADVISED ME THAT NO REPORT WAS REQUIRED SINCE NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE, A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR, TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SINCE AIRBAGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY WITHOUT CAUSE AND THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TESTED EVERY 10 YEARS. *TR
I HAD A GREEN LIGHT ON A N/S STREET. THE DRIVER ON THE E/W STREET RAN THE LIGHT. I HIT THE DRIVER SIDE OF HIS CAR, DAMAGING MY ENTIRE FRONT END TO THE POINT OF A TOTAL LOSS ON THE VAN. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID DEPLOY (NO PASSENGER, HOWEVER). THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT. I AM DEALING WITH DEEP BRUISING ON MY STERNUM AND CHEST. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHES ON AND OFF FOR 5-10 MINUTES. AFTERWARDS, IT STOPS FLASHING AND REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL ONLINE FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,893.
DIRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HAD IT BEEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE. SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE DAMAGE EXCEPT TO THE INTERIOR
I WAS COMIKNG HOME FROM WORK TRAVELING 45 MPH, HAD A GREEN LIGHT, AS I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION A POLICE CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT AND I STUCK HIM IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS CAR. MY VEIW WAS BLOCKED IN THE NEXT LANE SO I NEVER SAW HIM UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. I SLAMMED MY BRAKES AND TRIED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HIM BUT AT 45 MPH IT WAS NOT ENOUGH, I BRACED MY SELF WAITING FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY BUT NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER WORKED. I SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO MY CERVICAL SPINE AND I AM UNABLE TO WORK. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO FORD THEY SENT ME A LIST OF ITEMS THEY NEEDED AND PUT A 45 DAY TIME LIMIT ON THE COMPLAINT AND REQUESTED INFO...SO I GUESS WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY DO FOR ME, THANK GOD I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT OR I WOULD BE DEAD! *JB
I WAS HEADING SOUTH COMING TO A GREEN LIGHT AND A CAR HEADING WEST RUN A RED LIGHT AND I HIT HER IN THE SIDE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH . AFTER HITTING THE CAR I CONTINUED THROUGH INTERSECTION AND HIT STEEL GUTTER AND WENT OVER THAT AND HIT HEAD ON INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A DRY ROAD THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 21, 2006, AT ABOUT 40 MPH. A CAR TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND STRUCK THE FRONT OF MY CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FRONT SUSTAINED DAMAGE SEVERE ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID INFLATE, THOUGH THE DAMAGE ON THAT SIDE WAS LESS. I WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. DESPITE WEARING MY SEAT BELT, MY STERNUM WAS FRACTURED. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 42 MPH, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED. THERE HAD BEEN NO COLLISION AND NOTHING WAS RUN OVER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS NO VISIBLE SIGN AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALTHOUGH, THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN, THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT CLICKING CLOSED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE ONLINE, AND WAS CONCERNED AT THE AIR BAG RECALL INFORMATION THAT WAS DISCOVERED. THERE WERE TWO NHTSA RECALLS , #00V270000 AND # 00V412000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT. THERE WAS NO OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY DID NOT INSPECT THE AIR BAGS. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG SO THE TECHNICIAN AT THE BODY SHOP REMOVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FUSE. *NM
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND IT WAS SNOWING. I STARTED TO SLIDE ON ICE. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I SLID OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER AND IMPACTED WITH A DRAIN PIPE INTO A DITCH. NEITHER OF MY DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND AS A RESULT MY MOUTH HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED 18 STITCHES. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS CLAIMED A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
ON 11/20/05 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 P.M. A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF MY VAN. THE IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVERS FRONT LEFT AT THE HEADLIGHT SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. MINOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE INCIDENT CAUSED INJURY TO MY WIFE. THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGERS DID. THIS CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO BREAK MY WIFE'S WRIST IN 2 PLACES. AT THE SAME TIME THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKED BUT THE PASSENGERS DIDN'T CAUSING MY WIFE TO GO FORWARD. BOTH OF US WERE WEARING OUR SEAT BELTS. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM SINCE EVERYTHING HAPPENED BACKWARDS. AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VAN BUT FORD CUSTOMER AFFAIRS IS SUPPOSE TO BE CONTACTING ME. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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